What's In Your Baggage?

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I commute about 20 miles to work so every day I am on the highway. Not long ago I spotted a really small car pulling a really big trailer. The car was chugging down the road, in the right lane thank goodness, but I remember thinking "I would never do that, pull a big trailer with my small car!" I remember looking with rolling eyes at that car and how slowly he was going to have to go to avoid an engine burnout! I am sure he was on that road for good reason but it led me to think about all of the crazy excess baggage we pull around with us every day.


The baggage I carry around is definitely lighter now than it used to be, it has taken some practice. However, there are days when I borrow stuff from others to put in my own bag. I am wondering how full is your load and is it bigger than you are?

In 2003 I took my oldest daughter to Europe for 10 days. We planned for months for that trip and we read all of the travel guides. I just could not bring myself to pack as light as Rick Steves of PBS fame suggested. Even with all of my efforts, my suitcase was still too heavy. Why did I have to take that third pair of shoes that I never wore? Why did I have to take that extra sweater? I had trouble keeping it light because I thought I might need it in an emergency. I did not want to be without.

I think that is the way with many of us. We carry around our old baggage of hurts and disappointments, or worries and needs like a big duffel bag on our shoulders. Really all it does is weigh us down. The road down life's path is certainly slower and more labored with that baggage. Somehow I need to find a way to let go of the load each day.

A good friend once told me to intentionally close up my day planner at the end of the day to symbolize letting it go knowing that tomorrow is a new day and it can be opened again. That same friend gave me this good advice. When I am shopping, think about shopping. When I am meeting with a patient, only think about that patient, when I am talking to a daughter, only think about her. You get the idea. If we are only focused on what is at hand we can't possibly be clouding our minds with our baggage. If we have too much baggage, we cannot be as encouraging to others. If we have too much baggage our children learn from us to carry their own heavy load. What do we want others to see in us? A beast of burden hanging over our shoulders or to see the light that shines in front of our path?

Maybe you have some strategies that help you let go of your baggage so you don't have to drag it around all day. I'd like to hear your thoughts!

(Photo from American-Flex.com via Google)

Abundance is...letting go of the old stuffed baggage and carrying a "light" instead.